In New York, the regulations regarding the sale of beer can be a bit complex. The New York State Liquor Authority, commonly known as the SLA, sets the guidelines for the sale of alcohol in the state. Specifically, when it comes to beer, there are restrictions on the hours during which it can be sold.
During most days of the week, beer can be purchased from grocery stores and drug stores from 8:00 a.m. until midnight. However, there is an exception for Sundays. On Sundays, beer cannot be sold in grocery stores and drug stores from 3:00 a.m. until noon. This means that if you are planning to buy beer on a Sunday morning, you will have to wait until noon for the stores to start selling it.
It is important to note that these regulations specifically apply to grocery stores and drug stores. Liquor/wine stores have different operating hours. According to the SLA, liquor/wine stores can sell alcohol Monday through Saturday until midnight. However, on Sundays, liquor/wine stores are only allowed to sell from noon until 9:00 p.m. This means that if you are looking to purchase beer from a liquor/wine store on a Sunday, you will have to make sure to do so between noon and 9:00 p.m.
Now, it's worth mentioning that these regulations may vary slightly depending on the specific county or municipality within New York. Some areas may have stricter regulations or additional restrictions on the sale of beer. It is always a good idea to check with your local authorities or consult the SLA website for the most up-to-date information on beer sale hours in your area.
In my personal experience as a sommelier and brewer, I have encountered these regulations quite frequently. It is important for businesses in the alcohol industry to adhere to these guidelines to avoid any legal issues. As a consumer, it is also important to be aware of these regulations to ensure that you can purchase beer within the allowed hours.
To summarize, in New York, you can buy beer from grocery stores and drug stores from 8:00 a.m. until midnight, except on Sundays when beer sales are prohibited from 3:00 a.m. until noon. Liquor/wine stores can sell beer until midnight from Monday to Saturday, and from noon until 9:00 p.m. on Sundays. However, it is always advisable to check for any local variations or updates to these regulations.